LYNN Richard F. Sullivan is ready to set Lynn on fire with his new burger restaurant scheduled to open in less than a month, and to prove his point he made sure R.F. OSullivans includes a fireplace encased in a window where Sutton Street meets Central Avenue.

Ive always loved two-sided fireplaces, so I put one in here, he said.

Sullivan, a Swampscott resident, has pegged the end of this month or early March as the opening date for his new restaurant. With its marine mahogany exterior walls varnished to a golden-red glow and the restaurants interior almost finished, Sullivan is looking forward to becoming the citys latest culinary addition.

Its a great location. I hear people say Lynn is moving, and I have the same feeling about the city, he said.

With a capacity of 88 customers, R.F. OSullivans will offer 30 to 40 different types of burgers, as well as custom-made burgers, with the menu taking a cue from Sullivans Somerville eatery R.F. OSullivan and Son. He also plans to feature 50 to 60 craft beers.

Sullivans Somerville restaurant was formerly called O. Henrys. Sullivan started working there as a bartender in 1975, building on the restaurant skills he learned growing up on Long Island in New York. He bought the O. Henry property in 1991 at a time when people were telling him that a business investment in now-popular Somerville was crazy.

I made the best burger. I made sure the meat was fresh and that quality and consistency were key, he said.

The same hunch that led him to invest in Somerville prompted Sullivan last year to offer Lynn city officials a bid to revitalize 143 Central Ave., the site of a former bar that became city property in a 2013 tax taking.

It was an intense process they went through my whole history, Sullivan said.

He paid $150,000 for the building and began renovation work last year with Nahant-based JP Construction undertaking the exterior wood paneling and interior work that included a marble slab floor and custom-built bar and booth tables.

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New Lynn burger spot putting on the fixings

Despite the fanfare and buzz surrounding Canalside, and the optimism of state officials, only one real estate developer submitted a bid to handle the construction of a proposed new waterfront building that would house the new Explore & More Childrens Museum, a tourist facility and a possible restaurant.

Details surrounding the proposal were not available, as no final decision has been made, and no final time frame has been given.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. officials would not even disclose the identity of the bidder, saying the request for proposals process was still underway, and they were in discussions with the interested company.

Im not free to say who it is, but were having negotiations right now, said Tom Dee, president and CEO of Erie Canal Harbor Development, a subsidiary of Empire State Development Corp., the states economic development agency. Im not sure that it is public information.

Thats nonsense, says Robert J. Freeman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government in Albany, itself a part of the governments Department of State.

The identity of the submitter is unquestionably public, Freeman said, rejecting the idea that being in negotiations means the harbor agency cant disclose a name.

Specific details of a proposal might be different, he said, since they could reveal financial information or competitive techniques. But even an overall price tag for the proposal shouldnt be confidential, because its still subject to negotiations and could change, Freeman said. And in this case, theres only one bidder anyway.

The apparent lack of interest in constructing the 100,000-square-foot building on the South Aud Block of Canalside raises questions about just how successful the effort will be, and whether something is wrong with the process or requirements imposed on developers.

In particular, key design features were already set in place, limiting flexibility. The general plan as already outlined by architects calls for the Explore & More museum to relocate from East Aurora to 40,000 square feet in the new facility really a set of three buildings on a parcel sandwiched between the new canals, Main Street and Marine Drive.

Historical streets would be reconstructed for pedestrian use. The complex would also include a new 1,571-square-foot Canalside Information Center with bathrooms, plus the Erie Canalway Trail Plaza and basement space to house the mechanical equipment for the Ice at Canalside. The remainder of the complex would be a mixed-use facility, including a three-story restaurant with 15,900 square feet at the north end and some possible space for apartments, offices or other retail use. Speculation has focused on higher-end restaurants.

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Little interest in Canalsides Explore & More project

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Matt Schmidt at the downtown Milwaukee Water Street Brewery.

Schmidt owns four bars and restaurants on or near Water Street in downtown Milwaukee, including Water Street Brewery. He has four other establishments in Milwaukee and three suburban restaurants, including Water Street Brewery locations in Grafton and Delafield. Water Street Brewery also has a major presence at Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair.

Schmidt still owns the first establishment he bought in Milwaukee, RC's Bar at 1530 E. North Ave., which he took on in 1974. The success of RC's was the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey that has led Schmidt to expand his business over and over again.

Matt Schmidt speaks with Vagabonds executive chef, Ramses Alvarez.

He works every day, Matt said. No doubt he is going to be working for a while. Part of it is because he loves it. But Matt, 35, is increasingly becoming the public face of the business.

I think I have that same passion, too, Matt said. I love doing this. My favorite part is being in the places, especially when its busy, and seeing us take great care of people.

The Schmidts are always looking for growth opportunities. They recently completed a major restaurant makeover project and are building another new restaurant.

Rudys Mexican Restaurant, which R.C. Schmidt bought in 2000 and moved from the citys Walkers Point neighborhood to 1122 N. Edison St. near Water Street, was recently renovated and renamed Vagabond. It re-opened in mid-December. The highlight of the renovation was the use of a pair of Airstream trailers that were gutted and built into the two bars of the restaurant.

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Beyond Water Street: Schmidt restaurant empire heads south to Oak Creek

During the six weeks the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has been closed, crews cleared out 1,000 fish from the giant saltwater tank to refurbish it, started construction on a large new restaurant and put together a healthier menu.

The zoo and aquarium will reopen to the public Feb. 14, although visitors will have to wait awhile to enjoy the new restaurant and see the giant aquarium.

The sea life is gone from the large saltwater tank that sits in the middle of PPG Aquarium, leaving behind a fishy smell. Crews are revamping the Big Ocean tank, which usually holds 100,000 gallons of saltwater and 1,000 fish of multiple species and sizes. The tank was drained in December so crews could re-coat the walls with an epoxy material, said Bradley Smith, director of construction management at the zoo.

Big Ocean is 14 years old and needs to be recoated because the saltwater took a toll on the old coating, he said. Crews plan to add new coral to improve the decor of the tank, and add new lighting.

Dwayne Biggs, curator of aquatic life at the aquarium, said crews would make a fresh batch of saltwater out of synthetic sea salt to refill the tank, which is expected to be ready by the end of March.

Mr. Smith pointed out a small area within the tank he called Little Ocean, where the small fish hide from sharks and groupers when they get too aggressive. The fish have now been separated into temporary holding tanks spread throughout the zoo. It took about two months to remove and transport them, Mr. Biggs said.

The aquariums two big groupers are out on loan to other aquariums in the area, and required specially designed stretchers and nets to safely move them to transport tanks the larger grouper weighs about 300 pounds.

Most of the other fish are in the quarantine room, where fish new to the aquarium stay for 30 days when they arrive. The room also holds about a half-dozen holding tanks. One tank is 5,000 gallons, and houses sharks, Mr. Biggs said. The largest holding tank holds about 15,000 gallons of water, and Mr. Biggs said there were various other smaller tanks elsewhere in the aquarium to fit the fish.

The restaurant, Jambo Grill, will be the zoos largest at 7,000 square feet. It is near the Safari Grill and replaces a cheetah holding building and two smaller restaurants that served pizza and French fries. Construction began in October, although it slowed the past two weeks due to the cold, Mr. Smith said. It is expected to be completed by Memorial Day.

The restaurants patio faces the area housing elephants, zebras, giraffes and cheetahs. Jambo Grills structure will have a safari theme, with wood paneling and a steep ceiling, and will accommodate 300 people, split between 160 indoor seats and 140 outdoors.

Continued here:
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium to reopen Saturday

Isabel Tapia stirs a pot in the kitchen of her family's restaurant, the Tortilla Factory, on Wednesday afternoon. The new Tortilla Factory, located at 2706 S. Greeley Highway, had its soft opening on Saturday. Miranda Grubbs/staff

CHEYENNE - The new Tortilla Factory restaurant building in south Cheyenne is made of stucco, wood, steel and glass.

But that's not all.

The restaurant is built on a strong foundation formed by a family's dedication and hard work.

The Tortilla Factory at 2706 S. Greeley Highway opened Saturday.

Its high ceilings - as high as 25 feet in some parts of the restaurant - complement the bold crimson and melon colors painted on the walls and the yellow and blue colors at the front desk area.

The new restaurant replaces an older, smaller Tortilla Factory at 715 S. Greeley Highway.

Genaro and Rosario Tapia opened that first Tortilla Factory in 1997.

Now three of their four adult children are partners with them in the new venture. They are Isabel, Sam and Martin Tapia.

The Tapias also own Tortilla Factory Express on Stillwater Avenue in north Cheyenne. It will continue to operate.

Excerpt from:
Family-run Mexican restaurant now in larger building in South Cheyenne area

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) Big changes are happening at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

For the first time, the zoo is closed for six weeks for maintenance and renovation.

One of the largest changes taking place at the zoo is crews are building a brand new restaurant. Construction workers started demolition in October in the area near the Safari Grill.

They tore down a cheetah holding building, along with two small buildings where you could buy pizza and French fries.

What were doing is were constructing a new 7,000 square foot restaurant, which will accommodate 300 seats, said Bradley Smith, Director of Construction Management at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

There will be 160 seats outside and 140 seats inside the air-conditioned building. The new Jambo Grill is on track to be completed by Memorial Day.

It is an African theme, it is very open, heavy timber, it has a very steep cathedral ceiling, said Smith.

Smith said one of the best parts of the restaurant is that youll be able to watch the cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, while you enjoy a meal on the patio.

As far as the menu, there will be several healthy and fresh options.

This is an opportunity for us to step our game up in this market, as well as in zoos and we really want to make people rethink what zoo food is, said Steve Schurr, General Manager of Service Systems Associates.

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Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Set To Reopen After Major Renovations

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) February 03, 2015

Jafrejo Holdings & the Florida Restaurant Franchise Group are bringing Twin Peaks to South Florida. What has been called the Fastest Growing Restaurant Chain in America by both Businessweek and Forbes magazines, the booming restaurant chain already has Florida locations in Orlando and Pensacola and the company is expected to open the brands 1st South Florida location in early May with another 4 locations scheduled to open throughout the a area over the next 12 months.

The 11,000-square-foot restaurant is currently under construction and will be located in the Tower Shoppes (at the corner of University Drive and I-595) in Davie, FL. We're building the Ultimate Man Cave with the coldest beer in town and made from scratch food said Joe Sloboda, Vice President of Operations for Jafrejo Holdings. The Davie location will have 32 beers on tap and more than 70 large screen hi-def televisions with for every sports fans viewing pleasure.

Twin Peaks is mountain-lodge themed sports bar, known for its rugged feel and man cave setting, with 29 degree beer and made from scratch food served by beautiful Twin Peaks Girls. The Texas based franchise has been taking the country by storm and currently has 65 locations across the United States and is expected to have more than 100 stores opened by the end of the year. We are coming into South Florida in a big way and will be opening stores in West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Pembroke Pines and Fort Lauderdale over the next 12 months, added Sloboda.

About Jafrejo Holdings, LLC and the Florida Restaurant Franchise Group Based in Weston, FL, Jafrejo Holdings, LLC and their subsidiary, The Florida Restaurant Franchise Group is a commercial real estate development and holding company that specializes in restaurant operations and retail property development. The company currently owns and or is developing multiple franchise restaurant units for VooDoo BBQ & Grill and Twin Peaks Restaurants. The Principles have more than 30 years of experience in restaurant operations and real estate development and are also licensed attorneys and experienced real estate developers.

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Jafrejo Holdings to Bring Twin Peaks Restaurant to South Florida

The former Hops Restaurant in the 3700 block of Southwest Archer Road is seen on Feb. 2, 2015.

Butler Plaza soon will be welcoming two new tenants -- a Tuesday Morning home goods store and a Carter's children's store -- while the Outback Steakhouse will be relocating to the former Hops Restaurant.

Tuesday Morning sells a variety of home goods: small appliances, bath and body items, clothes and accessories, luggage and seasonal goods. It will be opening in the 3700 block of Southwest Archer Road between Trader Joe's and PetSmart.

This will be Gainesville's second Tuesday Morning, the first being in the Plaza Royale shopping center on Newberry Road.

Through a Butler spokesperson, Tuesday Morning declined to offer a potential opening date.

Carter's sells children's clothing, gifts and accessories. It is scheduled to open in March in the 3900 block of Southwest Archer Road in the former Pac Sun spot between Target and Old Navy.

The nearest Carter's locations are in St. Augustine, Jacksonville and Orlando.

These two new stores will bring more jobs and revenue to the area as well as the additional shopping options, Butler President Deborah Butler wrote to the Sun in an email. Our overall approach is to fulfill all the needs and wants for both shopping and dining right here.

This approach includes bringing many new-to-the-market retailers to Gainesville and eliminating the burden of traveling elsewhere."

A current Butler tenant, Outback Steakhouse, will be switching spots within the complex but declined to offer specifics.

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Outback moving to old Hops location; Tuesday Morning, Carter's coming to Butler

A restaurant chain called Bagger Daves Burger Tavern has signed a lease to open its first location in Ohio at the Cornerstone of Centerville development, the chains founder said this morning.

Michael Ansley CEO of Diversified Restaurant Holdings Inc., which operates 24 Bagger Daves restaurants in Michigan and Indiana said he intends to open at least two more locations in the Dayton area, one in the Austin Landing area of Miami Twp. and one in Beavercreek in the Mall at Fairfield Commons area. A fourth may follow in the Huber Heights area, Ansley said.

The Cornerstone of Centerville Bagger Daves will seat about 160 and will employ 35 to 45, the CEO said.

Chris Conley, president of Oberer Real Estate Services, said Bagger Daves will occupy about 4,500 square feet of the southern side of a mixed-retail building known as Shoppes I that will be built near the Wilmington Pike entrance to Costco Warehouse. Construction should begin around March 1, Conley said.

Ansley said the new restaurant could open as early as August.

We knew Ohio would be the next state we wanted to enter, he said. Plans call for opening an additional six to eight restaurants in the Cincinnati region, starting with a location in the West Chester area, Ansley said. Well probably sign the lease in the next few weeks for that location, he said.

Ansley, a 1993 graduate of the University of Dayton, is also franchise owner of 42 Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Florida. His Bagger Daves eateries are full-service restaurants, not fast-casual with counter service, he said.

Each Bagger Daves offers build-your-own and signature burgers, hand-cut fries, soups, salads, a collection of bourbons and 10 craft-beer taps that will feature local craft beer, Ansley said. The restaurant chains slogan is Different kinds of burgers, different kinds of beer.

Several other restaurants, including Milanos Atlantic City Submarines, Chick-fil-A, and Archers Tavern, have announced theyll be opening restaurants in the mixed-use development near the I-675/Wilmington Pike interchange. Anchor tenant Costco is already open, and a Kroger store and Cabelas outdoor store also have submitted plans to be the second and third retail anchors for the development.

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Cornerstone of Centerville bags another restaurant

LAKE IN THE HILLS A gastropub is in the works at the former Applebee's on Randall Road.

The Woods Creek Tavern is scheduled to open in the spring, said managing partner Dave Abraham.

Abraham, who lives in Hoffman Estates, said the gastropub will have higher quality food and higher quality beer along with a large selection of craft beers.

We want to create to a neighborhood environment where people can come in and relax, have some good food, good beer [in] a cool atmosphere, Abraham said.

Interior construction, along with a new kitchen, is expected to begin in a couple of weeks, Abraham said. Work also will take place on the exterior.

Abraham, who has been in the restaurant business for four years, also is a managing partner of a restaurant in Schaumburg.

He started looking at the 5,000-square-foot former Applebees during the summer of 2013, when the property went on the market.

Abraham wont disclose the amount of the investment.

He did say he wanted to locate the business on Randall Road, but he didnt make a move on the property until the decision on whether to go with a continuous flow intersection at Randall and Algonquin roads was resolved.

Ultimately, County Board members opted to go with a conventional intersection as part of a potential Randall Road widening project.

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New restaurant planned at former Lake in the Hills Applebee's